Pope Leo XIV visits Argentina disability home amid budget cutbacks

Pope Leo XIV will visit Cottolengo Don Orione, a residential facility for disabled people in the Almirante Brown district of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on November 9.

The institution, which opened in 1936, provides a permanent home and day center for 410 residents. Father Aníbal Quevedo, a priest and provincial advisor for the Don Orione charity, says the visit provides a level of visibility for the disabled community that the facility has never experienced before.

The facility operates on a mission to provide residents with a high quality of life rather than just basic medical care. Residents participate in various activities, including cooking, dancing, gardening, and a workshop where they debate current events like inflation. Father Quevedo explains that the organization funds its operations through healthcare programs like PAMI and Incluir Salud, as well as private donations and fundraising.

The visit occurs as the disabled sector in Argentina faces political controversy due to spending cutbacks in the 2027 Budget. Father Quevedo notes that the institution is struggling with reduced payments and missing supplies. He argues that the visit will highlight the needs of the disabled and encourage society to move toward a model that puts people at the center of decisions.